Counsel Culture with Eric Brooker

What is up? Hey everyone, Eric Brooker here. I am your host and welcome to Counsel Culture. By now, you know what we are all about. For those of you that are new, this is THE culture and leadership podcast. Today, I am thrilled to welcome Sylvie Di Giusto to the show. Sylvie is an international keynote speaker, 13-time award winner, and author who has captivated audiences worldwide with her groundbreaking insights on leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal branding. Drawing on two decades of corporate experience in Europe and the U.S., Sylvie has mastered the art of empowering individuals and organizations to harness the "Power of Choice"—a transformative framework that equips leaders to make conscious decisions, align behaviors, and achieve exceptional outcomes. Her innovative work, including the world’s first 3D immersive holographic keynote experience, has earned accolades like the ESPRIT Award and two Davey Awards for her contributions to emerging technology and education. Sylvie’s ability to connect with audiences stems from her unique dual perspective as both a seasoned corporate leader and a professional speaker. With clients ranging from American Airlines to Microsoft, and Nespresso to the US Air Force, she has earned the trust of some of the world’s most respected organizations to inspire growth in leadership, sales, and customer experience. A Certified Speaking Professional and author of “The Image of Leadership,” Sylvie’s expertise extends to her cutting-edge online courses and volunteer work with the National Speakers Association. Join us as we dive into her remarkable journey and explore the insights that have made her a true pioneer in the speaking industry. This show is dedicated to Sylvie’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.sylviedigiusto.com 

My guest today is none other than my friend Marques Ogden. Marques is a former NFL player turned inspirational speaker, author, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Ogden Ventures LLC, a media and entertainment company that specializes in keynote speaking, business coaching, and consulting. Ogden is a three-time best-selling author and the host of the podcast "Get Authentic with Marques Ogden." In his speaking engagements, Marques leads his audiences to understand why “Authenticity Creates Victory” by sharing his personal story of overcoming adversity and achieving success. Marques is on a mission to inspire CEOs and other senior leaders to maximize their potential to reach their personal and professional goals. This show is dedicated to Marques’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.marquesogden.com  

My guest today is an old personal friend and I am thrilled to introduce you to my guest, Meredith Carder. Meredith is an ADHD coach, creator and writer. She holds a BS in psychology and MBA. As a true multi-passionate adult with ADHD, Meredith has gained varied experience over the last 20 years working in employee training and development as well as tackling several small businesses. Meredith prides herself in her ability to hold a supportive space for her clients and facilitate lasting connections in her community for ADHD adults, the Hummingbird Hive. Her recent book, It All Makes Sense Now, seeks to both validate the challenges that exist with ADHD and provide empowering strategies for personal growth.  This book was not only eye opening for me but also, a game changer. This show is dedicated to Meredith’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.instagram.com/hummingbird_adhd | www.meredithcarder.com   

On a mission to scale positivity and happiness in the workplace. ‍After successfully navigating the vibrant fields of fashion design, systems engineering, cloud engineering, cloud training, and team coaching, Antoni Tzavelas found his true vocation: igniting the spark of inspiration in others as a public speaker and leadership coach. With a focus on spreading the potent messages of happiness and empowerment, his mission is to illuminate paths of personal and professional fulfillment for others. Global engagements have seen him gracing stages at many conferences around the world. Such appearances are complemented by participation in countless community meetups where he has imparted his knowledge and insights, furthering an understanding of leadership, happiness, and empowerment. Antoni guides individuals to prioritize their happiness in every aspect of their lives. By offering straightforward, impactful strategies through keynote speeches and workshops, he empowers people to unlock their full potential. This is not just his career: it’s his mission to help make the world a more inspired and joyful place. Make happiness your superpower!   This show is dedicated to Antoni's journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture.  Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.smilingbowtie.com  

My guest today is Johnny Vrba. On average, around 350,000 U.S. students, and nearly one million students worldwide, study abroad every year. Yet since its inception in 1963, only about 73,000 total students from over 1500 colleges and universities have participated in Semester at Sea. It is a truly unique, exclusive, and intimate experience, where students and faculty study, work, and travel to the farthest reaches of the globe. But what happens when your ship is out to sea when a pandemic hits the world, rumors run rampant, ports begin closing, and thrills turn into turmoil? Seas the Day is the true story of one student’s first-hand account of being stranded at sea during the most intense time of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through detailed daily journals, Johnny candidly captures the fears, confusion, comradery, and, ultimately, his personal transformational growth and the rediscovery of his faith. This show is dedicated to Johnny’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.johnnyvrba.com 

One of my all time favorite guests is back….you originally were on episode 77, April 8, 2022! Melanie Sodka is a human behaviour enthusiast helping overwhelmed people who are over-committed and distracted. She’s a podcaster and an international speaker who addresses Capacity Management. Through her structures and frameworks, she reveals how our addiction to distraction is literally breaking down our bodies. Her research and trademarked tools have helped tens of thousands in managing their personal capacity while staying out of burnout and doing more of what they love. For many years, Melanie has been engaging and shifting the perspectives of her audiences in the classroom, boardroom and conference rooms. A TEDx speaker, Melanie designs custom talks and virtual series to serve her clients. She is also an experienced lead facilitator for national conferences as well as an EMCEE for various events. Melanie is also pursuing her dream of writing a book where she shares true stories and a suite of tools, including her very own Egocake™  Framework, intended to guide people through the discovery of their personal capacity and ultimately how to respect it. This show is dedicated to Melanie’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.melaniesodka.com | www.goodgriefgala.com  

My guest today is a good personal friend of mine and culture guru, Jake Herway. I had the opportunity to meet Jake at The Purpose Summit a couple of years ago and am grateful for his friendship and mentorship Jake understands that your business needs more than a short-term fix; it requires a clear vision, a defined identity, and a cohesive team to succeed. As an accomplished culture and business advisor, he offers an approach beyond traditional leadership development to customer outcomes. Jake’s Culture to Customer™ approach fosters rewarding work – a culture of passion, purpose, and profit, where individuals are inspired and fulfilled daily and make a difference in areas they deeply care about. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in various sectors, including education, healthcare, and financial services, Jake focuses on helping your business achieve its full potential. This show is dedicated to Jake’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture™. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.jakeherway.com  

My guest today is none other than Mayor Joshua Hoyt! Over the past 25 years, he has developed a reputation for being a complex problem solver. As an elected Mayor and three-time entrepreneur, he successfully navigates the complexities of both the private and public sectors. His career is a testament to the principle that success requires multifaceted solutions. Motivated by this insight, he founded his consulting business to assist clients in achieving their goals across personal, professional, and business landscapes. Drawing on disciplines learned in the United States Marine Corps, he prioritizes data-driven decisions, critical thinking, and objective analysis in his work. His approach is personalized, focusing on the unique challenges and needs of each client to provide tailored, actionable strategies. This hands-on method ensures accountability and measurable outcomes, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and success. Choosing to work with him or in my case, being his friend means aiming for excellence in all you do. Joshua is extremely proactive in community outreach and volunteerism, serving multiple non-profits and raising tens of thousands of dollars annually. Please join me in welcoming our esteemed guest to the podcast, Mayor Joshua Hoyt! This show is dedicated to Joshua’s journey. This conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.nosingular-solutions.com  The Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-singular-solutions-with-joshua-hoyt/id1741235868  

My guest today is author of a few good books including, How to work with almost anyone, How to Begin, The Advice Trap and the one we all know and love, The Coaching Habit, Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. Michael Bungay Stanier has a gift for distilling big, complex ideas into practical, accessible knowledge for everyday people that helps them be a force for good.His books have sold over a million copies, with The Coaching Habit topping The Wall Street Journal bestseller list. MBS has been featured on the blogs and social media platforms of thought leaders including Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, and Brené Brown, and has appeared on ABC, BBC, CBC, Ted.com, and innumerable podcasts--as well as in notable publications including the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc., and Fast Company. MBS is the founder of Box of Crayons, a learning and development company, that helps organizations move from advice-driven action to curiosity-led transformation. They have trained more than half a million people for clients including Microsoft, Salesforce, TELUS, and Gucci. Before establishing Box of Crayons, MBS's accomplishments included publishing an academic article on James Joyce and a Harlequin-esque short story; playing small roles in helping invent Pizza Hut's Stuffed Crust pizza and creating "one of the worst single-malt whiskies in existence"; and spending 20 minutes writing what has remained GlaxoSmithKline's global vision for more than 20 years. A former Rhodes Scholar, MBS is an Australian who now lives in Toronto, Canada. This show is dedicated to Michael’s journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.mbs.works | www.bestpossiblerelationship.com 

Today, it is just me. There was a message that needed to get out into the world and I used my forum to get that message out. As a reminder, everyone is going through something. You Are Enough! This show is dedicated to your journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. As promised, www.ericbrooker.com | www.linkedin.com/in/ericbrooker  480.296.9777 call, text, send dad jokes.

My guest today is author of the new book; Breakproof 7 Strategies to Build Resilience and Achieve Your Life Goals. She is also a global keynote speaker and a world record holding mountaneer.  Jenn Drummond is more than a speaker, author and mountaneer; she is a catalyst for change. As a devoted mom of seven and a successful entrepreneur, her journey through a near-fatal car crash to the peaks of the world’s tallest mountains is a testament to her unbreakable spirit. Her mission goes beyond personal achievement – it’s about guiding others to find their resilience and conquer their own summits. Jenn’s BreakProof philosophy isn’t about avoiding failure; it’s about learning to rise stronger from it. She believes that it’s in our most vulnerable moments that we discover our true strength. Join us today, and embark on a journey to transform vulnerability into victory, and challenges into opportunities for growth. In our conversation today, you’ll not only be inspired but also equipped with the mindset and strategies to create your best life and become genuinely BreakProof. This show is dedicated to Jenn’s journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.jenndrummond.com 

Douglas R. Conant is an internationally renowned business leader, New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, and social media influencer with over 40 years of leadership experience at world-class global companies. For the past 20 years of his leadership journey, he has honed his leadership craft at the most senior levels—first as President of the Nabisco Foods Company, then as CEO of Campbell Soup Company, and then as Chairman of Avon Products. In 2011, he founded ConantLeadership: a mission-driven community of leaders and learners who are championing leadership that works in the 21st century.  I could literally about talk about Doug, his resume and this conversation for day’s. Doug is a wealth of knowledge and a genuinely nice guy with a true desire to help mature the next generation of leaders. This is a cannot miss conversation.  This show is dedicated to Doug’s journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.conantleadership.com 

Our guest today is none other than Sylvie Di Giusto. I am going to tell you right now, this is a can't miss episode. After you listen to today's conversation, please come back to the show notes and watch the incredible trailer to her immersive keynote speech and then do yourself a favor and follow her on social, buy the book and be ready to be engulfed in incredible thought provoking content. More than a decade ago, Sylvie made one of the best decisions of her life by leaving her successful twenty-year corporate career in Europe and bringing her young family across the Pond to America with a newborn on her lap. She exercised what she has since called the Power of Choice, a conscious decision-making framework that allows us to understand our perceptions, choose our behaviors, and determine our best outcomes. Now, extraordinary leaders and professionals at many of the most respected organizations, associations, and government agencies in the world—from American Express to American Airlnes, Hilton to Nespresso, Microsoft to Prudential, and even the US Airforce - trust Sylvie to help them make the right decisions to grow their brands and bottom lines. Building on her five cornerstones of Modern Emotional Intelligence—visual, behavioral, verbal, digital, and social intelligence—she gives her audiences the Power of Choice to determine their greatest outcomes in leadership, sales, and customer experience. She takes them on a thought-provoking and immersive journey through the brain, the mind, from the unconscious to the conscious—and ultimately to the heights of personal, professional, and organizational success. She is one of fewer than 12 percent of speakers worldwide who received the Certified Speaking Professional designation, 11-time award winner, the author of "The Image of Leadership," and the “Discover Your Fair Advantage: Leverage Your Unique Selling Points and Human Potential for Work, Business and Life,” and the mind behind dozens of innovative mobile online courses, including "How You Impress". When she is not working, she is volunteering with the National Speakers Association and the Global Speakers Federation. When she is not volunteering, she is racing more than 102 floors in the stairwells of some of the highest buildings around the world, cruising around on her boat in sunny Florida, or she is spending time with he two wonderful teenage children who test her emotional intelligence e.v.e.r.y single day. This show is dedicated to Sylvie’s journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.sylviedigiusto.com Watch the trailer to her immersive keynnote address here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=iFvGUp_qC5M    

You all know my guest today, it is none other than my friend, Sage Steele! Sage Steele is a is a television anchor who is the former co-host of SportsCenter on ESPN. She also hosted SportsCenter on the Road from various sporting events such as the Super Bowl and The Masters, and NBA Countdown on ESPN and ABC for four seasons. For five years prior to the NBA assignment, Steele was a full-time host of SportCenter, ESPN's flagship show, and had previously contributed to ESPN First Take, Mike & Mike in the Morning and SportsNation. Steele hosted SportsCenter's daytime coverage of the NBA Finals in 2012 and 2013 and covered every NBA Finals from 2012 to 2020. All things considered this is a top 5 conversation for me in the last 3+ years of hosting this show. Y’all are not going to want to miss this one. We cover every topic under the sun and then some. I will let you know now that there will be more conversations with Sage in the future….it was just that good! This show is dedicated to Sage's journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com 

Elevate your week with today's conversation that will transform your mindset and drive your future success. Experience the transformative power of today's guest, Walter Bond's and this dynamic discussion. As a celebrated Hall of Fame speaker and renowned business advisor, Walter has captivated audiences worldwide, inspiring them to reach new heights of achievement. Get ready to ignite a fire of ambition and action! Former NBA athlete Walter Bond shares his journey from basketball to motivational speaking and the importance of coaching and recalibrating in achieving success. He emphasizes the significance of mastering the fundamentals and setting audacious goals. Walter highlights the role of teamwork and the core of an organization in driving success. He encourages leaders to empower their people and create a strong culture. In this conversation, Walter Bond discusses the importance of building a customer-centric culture and empowering employees. He emphasizes the need for managers to prioritize the customer experience and empower their teams to go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Walter shares examples from companies like Nordstrom and the Ritz Carlton, where employees are empowered to make decisions and take actions to make things right for the customer. He also highlights the impact of leadership on culture and the value of lifestyle and balance. Additionally, Walter introduces Peak Performance Huddle, an online portal designed to help individuals and businesses reach their full potential. This show is dedicated to Walter’s journey, this conversation is what we make it. This is Counsel Culture. Learn more at www.ericbrooker.com | www.peakperformershuddle.com